Trolling spoon



March 26, 1929. F. s. TUCKER TROLLING' SPOON Filed ma 15, 1924 first; E1151.

Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

FRANK S. TUCKER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

TROLLING sroon.

Application filed May 13,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trolling spoons and the primary object thereof is to provide a spoon which is formed so that when same is in the water its movements closely simulate that of a crippled minnow, the latter being commonly recognized as one of the greatest known fish lures.

The invention further aims to provide a spoon wherein the forward end tilts or dips downwardly and the rear end upwardly, the spoon oscillating horizontally and rapidly from side to side, and by virtue of the downward dip of the forward end to drive the spoon deeper due to its incidence against the water.

The invention still further aims to provide a spoon which after a short interval of rapid oscillation suddenly dips downwardly and then again resumes its rapid horizontal oscillation, followed by downward dip, ad in finitum, thus to closely resemble the move ments of a crippled minnow.

The invention still further aims to provide a spoon which can be easily and quickly die pressed into shape from flat sheet metal stock and thus economically produced.

In the drawings:

Figure 1, is a plan view of the invention;

Figure 2, is a central longitudinal seetional view,

Figures 3, l and 5 are sectional views taken on lines 3-3; ll and 55, respectively of Figure 1, and

Figure 6, is a side edge elevation.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention, the spoon is formed of sheet metal and is generally of ovoid or egg shape, the front or forward end portion 1 being of generally rounded form, while the rear end portion 2 is somewhat pointed, the front end 1, being of greater area than the rear end portion 2,.

The central portion 3 of the spoon is formed of substantially diamond shape appearance, the transverse axis of which diamond is at an incline to the longitudinal axis of the spoon, the longitudinal and transverse axes of the diamond extending in substantially straight planes, as depicted in Figures 2 and 4. The forward and rear portions 1 and 2 are each of concave-com 1924. Serial No. '?12,951.

vex cross-section as illustrated in Figures 5 and 2 respectively, the curvatures of the two portions, being however reversely related as shown in Figure 2. From Figure 1 of the drawings it will be noted that the rear terminals of the front and rear parts 1 and 2 are of reversely related V-form, thereby conjointly defining the perimeter of the diamond shaped central part which latter is of substantially flat or plane form. It will be noted that the diamond shape is not distinctor defined, but results from the reverse- 1y related concave-convex cross-sectional configurations of the front and rear parts 1 and 2 of the spoon. However, the side edges of the spoon curve from end to end of the spoon without the presence of any straight portion, being of ogee curvature as illustrated in Figure 2.

In actual use of the spoon, the forward end dips downwardly and the rear end upwardly, the spoon in its movement through the water oscillating horizontally from side to side with great rapidity, and by virtue of l the downward dip of the forward. end, its incidence against the water causes it to dip swiftly for some distance, afterwhieh it re turns to its previous movement and course, when after proceeding along that course in the same manner for some distance it res peats said dip and then returns to its oscillating movement and course ad inlinitum.

The horizontal oscillations are theoretically caused by the inclined sides of the diamond-appearing center being acted upon by the water upon downward dipping of the spoon.

In the prior art so far as I am aware the spoons have a vertical wobbly motion, as distinguished from my invention, in which latter the shaping of the parts as above set forth causes the spoon at intervals of every few feet to rapidly oscillate horizontally then dart dowrnvardly several inches and immediately return to its former horizontal position or plane.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a trolling spoon, a substantially ovoid body having its front and rear end portions of reversely related concave-convex cross section and conjointly defining a substantially diamond shape appearing plane central portion, the side edges of the body being of ogee configuration and the front end being of greater Width than the rear end.

2. A trolling spoon Comprising a body 7 having reversely cupped front and rear ends, the cupped portions being disposed on opposite side faeesof the bod-y,und-zt plane central (portion interposed between and 10 merged into the cupped portions, and being of substantially diamond form in plan, the longer axis of the diamond extending crosswise of the body and the shorter axis being at the median line of the body.

3. A trolling spoon as set forth in claim 2, the longitudinal side edges of the body defining ogee curves.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

FRANK S. TUCKER. 

